Breathing Space: the Zen of Clutter Management

Joanna Rueter

Now in her fifth year of working people and their space, Joanna
Rueter is very pleased to have the opportunity to help you make your
home and office work for you. Please call or email your questions
and organizing dilemmas to Breathing Space c/o Planet Vermont or 802-365-9600,
or rueter@sover.net.

Dear Breathing Space,

Thank
you for the Q & A's. I suspect everyone finds useful information in
each answer, no matter what the question was. None of us is so well
organized that we can't use more help.

I am currently organizing
my father's old painting studio for my own use, and according to your
answers, I am doing pretty well! I have numerous closets in the rest
of the house and the kitchen still to go. However, I have found that
working on what I am moved to do rather than just on the next obvious
or most "important" thing that needs doing keeps me from getting too
flattened by the enormity of it...

Thanks, Slowly but Surely

Dear Slowly but Surely,

Glad to hear from you. Just want to
say YES to all you wrote!

Dear Breathing Space,

I know
that there is a standard system for organizing a kitchen. I have heard
that you should have only so many steps between the sink and the refrigerator,
for example. Is there a similar standard for offices? We need help
with furniture placement and design for a home office. We have a photocopier,
computer, scanner, postage meter, two desks, table for collating, etc.
How do we set it up efficiently, but also keep some degree of personalization
to the space so that it doesnt feel so sterile?

Thanks!
Unorganized office owner

Dear Un-organized Office Owner,

You are asking excellent questions. I agree that an office space needs
to FEEL good as well as be functional! I dont know of the same
sort of layout guidelines as in a kitchen. Ideally though, the equipment
you use the most often will be within easy reach from your sitting
position at your desk. Therefore an L often works wellor
a Uso that you can reach whatever you need from a swivel chair.
You might want to put the postage meter and everything needed for handling
mail in an area where you would stand upaway from the desks.

The most important criteria is comfort and safetyno sharp
corners to run into, enough space to move around in. Touches of color
that you like such as a scarf draped over a file cabinet, or plants
can also help.

There are some interesting theories about desk placement
in Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement. One is that you
should be able to see who is coming in the door from your desk, by
having your desk face the door or, if thats not possible, by
having a mirror positioned so you can see the doorway in the mirror.
No harm in trying that out and seeing how it works for you.

Id
love to know what you end up doing. Remember that its ok to make
changes down the road also.

Best wishes!

Dear Breathing
Space,

My office is located in a basement with only three tiny
casement windows. How can I make the space feel large and sunny?

Down In Darkness

Dear Down in Darkness!

Great question,
especially with the dark winter months coming. Luckily there are some
relatively simple ways to lighten up ...Paint! Basement
walls are often dark. However, most walls can be painted even if they
are covered in old paneling. The color of the walls and ceiling make
a huge difference. You can use a quick drying primer on almost any
surface. Then use a bright top coat such as a creamy yellow. The
change can be dramatic. If the ceiling is dark, paint it also. Use
colors you like rather than a pure white.

Nextlighting.
White Christmas lights are a relatively low cost way to add extra cheer...and
a bit of light. The eyes like variations in light sources. Full spectrum
bulbs for your lamps and enough lamps to light the room fully though
gently are a good idea too. Its pretty vital to not stay in the
dark! You can also use mirrors to reflect and thus double the light
that is in the room especially opposite the windows.

Consider using
a warm bright rug on the floor and having a low-light plant
to make the space feel even larger. Its worth it to have your
work space as bright and cozy as possible.

If we run into any
other solutions well be sure to let you know! Anyone else have
some other suggestions?